Ancestral File is a computerized collection of genealogies that links families into pedigrees, showing ancestors and descendants. It contains information about 40 million people from throughout the world. It shows individuals’ names; family relationships; and dates and places of birth, marriage, and death. Ancestral File was created from thousands of user submitted pedigree charts, family group sheets, and [[GEDCOM]] files. Submissions were merged to eliminate duplication and submitted corrections were applied to eliminate errors.<br>

+

[[Image:Ancestral File.png|thumb|right|250px|Ancestral File.png]]Ancestral File is a computerized collection of genealogies that links families into pedigrees, showing ancestors and descendants. It contains information for about 40 million people from throughout the world. It shows individuals’ names, family relationships, dates and places of birth, marriage, and death. Ancestral File was created from thousands of user submitted pedigree charts, family group sheets, and [[GEDCOM]] files. Submissions were merged to eliminate duplication and submitted corrections were applied to eliminate errors.<br>

*The current site contains 40 million, 5 million more than the previous website.

*The current site contains 40 million, 5 million more than the previous website.

Line 7:

Line 7:

= When to Use It =

= When to Use It =

−

Use Ancestral File when more current information is not available in the new FamilySearch Tree or [Pedigree Resource File] (PRF). Ancestral File has significant limitations (see below), so better information is often available in these other resources.

+

Use Ancestral File when more current information is not available in the new FamilySearch Tree or [[Pedigree Resource File]] (PRF). Ancestral File has significant limitations (see below), so better information is often available in these other resources.

User submitted trees such as Ancestral File, the new FamilySearch Tree, and [Pedigree Resource File] contain second hand information. Use the information from user submitted trees to guide searches to authoritative records like birth certificates, church records, and other eye-witness accounts.

+

User submitted trees such as Ancestral File, the new FamilySearch Tree, and [[Pedigree Resource File]] contain second hand information. Use the information from user submitted trees to guide searches to authoritative records like birth certificates, church records, and other eye-witness accounts.

= Limitations =

= Limitations =

Line 18:

Line 18:

*It contains no notes or sources.

*It contains no notes or sources.

−

*Submitters are responsible for the accuracy of the information. FamilySearch did not check the accuracy of any submission.<br>

+

*Submitters are responsible for the accuracy of the information. FamilySearch did not check the accuracy of any submission.

*Submitter information, previously available, is now hidden for privacy reasons.

*Submitter information, previously available, is now hidden for privacy reasons.

*Ancestral File contains many errors and corrections are not accepted.

*Ancestral File contains many errors and corrections are not accepted.

*The name of the person you want may not have been contributed to the file, or the person may have been living when submitted.

*The name of the person you want may not have been contributed to the file, or the person may have been living when submitted.

−

*The person you want may have been submitted to another program, such as the new FamilySearch Tree, or the Pedigree Resource File (PRF).

+

*The person you want may have been submitted to another program, such as the new FamilySearch Tree, or the [[Pedigree Resource File]] (PRF).

*The person may be listed more than once, each time with different information. Look at the information available for each search result.

*The person may be listed more than once, each time with different information. Look at the information available for each search result.

*The name may be listed in a different way in the file.

*The name may be listed in a different way in the file.

Line 39:

Line 39:

'''How do I contribute to Ancestral File?'''

'''How do I contribute to Ancestral File?'''

−

Submissions are no longer accepted for Ancestral File. New family history databases should be submitted to the Pedigree Resource File.

+

Submissions are no longer accepted for Ancestral File. New family history databases should be submitted to the [[Pedigree Resource File]].

'''How do I correct errors in Ancestral File?'''

'''How do I correct errors in Ancestral File?'''

Corrections are no longer accepted for Ancestral File. Corrections should be made to the new FamilySearch Tree.

Corrections are no longer accepted for Ancestral File. Corrections should be made to the new FamilySearch Tree.

+

+

'''How accurate is Ancestral File?'''

+

+

The information in Ancestral File is a composite of information from many different contributors which may include some discrepancies and duplication. Some people may have contributed incorrect or incomplete information. Errors may have been introduced when paper submissions were typed into the computer. FamilySearch does not verify the accuracy of information in Ancestral File.

+

+

'''Are living people included in Ancestral File?'''

+

+

Ancestral File does not display information about living people. People born less than 95 years ago who do not have a death date in the file are considered living.

'''How do I contact submitters to Ancestral File?'''

'''How do I contact submitters to Ancestral File?'''

−

'''How accurate is Ancestral File?'''

+

For privacy reasons, the online version of Ancestral File does not display personal information about submitters. Instead, Ancestral File displays an identifier composed of parts of submitters' names followed by 7-digit numbers. The CD-ROM version and previous online versions of the Ancestral File displayed submitter names and contact information.

+

+

The DOS version of Ancestral File, where available, includes contact information for submitters. The DOS&nbsp;version is currently available on four computers on the 3rd floor of the [[Family History Library]] in Salt Lake City and in [[Family History Centers|FamilySearch centers]].

−

'''Are living people included in Ancestral File?'''

+

{{Tip|Many people who submitted information to Ancestral File are now deceased.}}

−

'''What is the Ancestral File Number (AFN)?'''

+

'''What is an Ancestral File Number (AFN)?'''

−

An Ancestral File Number was assigned to every record that was published in Ancestral File. If you know the Ancestral File Number, you can use it to search the Ancestral File for the individual. You can also search the new FamilySearch Tree using the Ancestral File Number.<br>

+

An Ancestral File Number was assigned to every record that was published in Ancestral File. If you know the Ancestral File Number, you can use it to search the Ancestral File for the individual. You can also search the new FamilySearch Tree using an Ancestral File Number.

| New edition with 40 million individuals published on a redesigned www.familysearch.org website.

| New edition with 40 million individuals published on a redesigned www.familysearch.org website.

|}

|}

Line 108:

Line 118:

Fidel, Steve. “[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8NMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GewDAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Ancestral%20File%22&pg=3239%2C3814738 Genealogy Site is a Hit—7 Million Times a Day].” ''Deseret News'', 22 May 1999, p. E-1.

Fidel, Steve. “[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8NMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GewDAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Ancestral%20File%22&pg=3239%2C3814738 Genealogy Site is a Hit—7 Million Times a Day].” ''Deseret News'', 22 May 1999, p. E-1.

−

“[http://lds.org/ensign/2000/02/news-of-the-church?lang=eng News of the Church].” ''Ensign'', February 2000.

+

“[http://lds.org/ensign/2000/02/news-of-the-church?lang=eng News of the Church].” ''Ensign'', February 2000.

+

+

{{featured article}}

+

+

[[Category:FamilySearch]]

Revision as of 16:27, 11 March 2013

Ancestral File.png

Ancestral File is a computerized collection of genealogies that links families into pedigrees, showing ancestors and descendants. It contains information for about 40 million people from throughout the world. It shows individuals’ names, family relationships, dates and places of birth, marriage, and death. Ancestral File was created from thousands of user submitted pedigree charts, family group sheets, and GEDCOM files. Submissions were merged to eliminate duplication and submitted corrections were applied to eliminate errors.

The current site contains 40 million, 5 million more than the previous website.

Information is not displayed for living individuals, including submitters.

Pedigree charts will soon be supported.

Contents

When to Use It

Use Ancestral File when more current information is not available in the new FamilySearch Tree or Pedigree Resource File (PRF). Ancestral File has significant limitations (see below), so better information is often available in these other resources.

User submitted trees such as Ancestral File, the new FamilySearch Tree, and Pedigree Resource File contain second hand information. Use the information from user submitted trees to guide searches to authoritative records like birth certificates, church records, and other eye-witness accounts.

Limitations

The Ancestral File has several key limitations.

It contains no notes or sources.

Submitters are responsible for the accuracy of the information. FamilySearch did not check the accuracy of any submission.

Submitter information, previously available, is now hidden for privacy reasons.

As previously mentioned, information in Ancestral File is second-hand. Verify the information before accepting it.

Tips for Searching Ancestral File

If you have not been able to find what you are looking for, consider the following:

The name of the person you want may not have been contributed to the file, or the person may have been living when submitted.

The person you want may have been submitted to another program, such as the new FamilySearch Tree, or the Pedigree Resource File (PRF).

The person may be listed more than once, each time with different information. Look at the information available for each search result.

The name may be listed in a different way in the file.

The spelling of the person’s name may be unexpected. Perform the search with Exact matching turned off.

There may be other unexpected information. Look for variations in names, dates, and places.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contribute to Ancestral File?

Submissions are no longer accepted for Ancestral File. New family history databases should be submitted to the Pedigree Resource File.

How do I correct errors in Ancestral File?

Corrections are no longer accepted for Ancestral File. Corrections should be made to the new FamilySearch Tree.

How accurate is Ancestral File?

The information in Ancestral File is a composite of information from many different contributors which may include some discrepancies and duplication. Some people may have contributed incorrect or incomplete information. Errors may have been introduced when paper submissions were typed into the computer. FamilySearch does not verify the accuracy of information in Ancestral File.

Are living people included in Ancestral File?

Ancestral File does not display information about living people. People born less than 95 years ago who do not have a death date in the file are considered living.

How do I contact submitters to Ancestral File?

For privacy reasons, the online version of Ancestral File does not display personal information about submitters. Instead, Ancestral File displays an identifier composed of parts of submitters' names followed by 7-digit numbers. The CD-ROM version and previous online versions of the Ancestral File displayed submitter names and contact information.

The DOS version of Ancestral File, where available, includes contact information for submitters. The DOS version is currently available on four computers on the 3rd floor of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and in FamilySearch centers.

Many people who submitted information to Ancestral File are now deceased.

What is an Ancestral File Number (AFN)?

An Ancestral File Number was assigned to every record that was published in Ancestral File. If you know the Ancestral File Number, you can use it to search the Ancestral File for the individual. You can also search the new FamilySearch Tree using an Ancestral File Number.

History

1 July 1979

Began accepting submissions. The Ancestral File replaces the 4-generation program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

April 1988

Ancestral File first deployed in the Family History Library with 4 million names.

2 April 1990

FamilySearch DOS published on CD-ROM. Includes Ancestral File with 7 million names.

1993

Ancestral File has grown to 15 million names.

1994

Version 2.31.

24 May 1999

FamilySearch.org debuts, including Ancestral File, which has 35 million names.

4 January 2003

Submissions to the Ancestral File are no longer accepted. Contributors told to submit to the Pedigree Resource File (PRF) instead.

November 2011

New edition with 40 million individuals published on a redesigned www.familysearch.org website.